School roundup: Vineyard nets key SEMGHL win

SOUTH DENNIS — In one of the most important regular-season games either girls hockey team has played in their short histories, Sydney Davies' second goal for Martha's Vineyard sealed a 3-2 victory over Dennis-Yarmouth at Tony Kent Arena on Friday.

SOUTH DENNIS — In one of the most important regular-season games either girls hockey team has played in their short histories, Sydney Davies' second goal for Martha's Vineyard sealed a 3-2 victory over Dennis-Yarmouth at Tony Kent Arena on Friday.

It was the first league loss for the Dolphins (5-1-1 SEMGHL Southeast, 6-7-1 overall).

D-Y controlled the game early, peppering Martha's Vineyard goalie Julia Bettencourt, who was named the surprise starter in the key matchup. It was only the second start this season for the freshman netminder and she came through with a win, stopping 15 of the Dolphins' 17 shots.

The host Dolphins got on the board first when Kristina Cheverie scored at 5:04 of the opening period finishing off a 3-on-2 breakaway. The sophomore scored D-Y's second goal in the middle period tying things up at 2-2 setting the stage for the key third period.

"This is really the first meaningful regular-season game these girls have played since I've been here," said Vineyard coach John Fiorito. "That makes this a legitimate win for these kids. D-Y had us on our heels early and I think we were a little nervous just throwing the puck around without a purpose. Then we settled down."

After D-Y seized the early advantage, MV roared back to knot the game at 1-1 when Davies made a nifty move on a D-Y defenseman. She got free to snap off a shot from the bottom of the right face-off circle that went in just under the post.

The Vineyard grabbed a 2-1 edge just as a penalty against D-Y ended at 1:27 of the second period on an Aubrey Ashmun tally with help from Davies and Courtney Howell.

"That second goal by the Vineyard hurt," said D-Y head coach Stephanie Scarpato. "We just killed off the penalty but our player coming out of the box couldn't get down the ice before they scored. If we could have held them off a little bit longer, who knows what would have happened."

However, that lead lasted less than a minute before Cheverie poked in a rebound of the fourth shot at MV's Bettencourt to tie things at 2-2 at 2:15 of the period.

The Dolphins kept the pressure on for the remainder of the frame, but could not grab the lead.

In the third period, the momentum shifted the other way and the island squad pressed for most of the period, outshooting the Dolphins, 7-3.

The pressure resulted in Davies picking up the rebound of a shot by Hammett and back-handing it into the net at 5:25.

"I would have to say that was the most complete game we have played this year," MV's Fiorito said. "The girls deserve a lot of credit."

Both teams are back in action today in league games with D-Y traveling to BMW in Bourne and the Vineyard hosting Cape tech/Nauset.

GEOFF CONVERSE

BOYS HOCKEY

Blue Hills 8, PJP II 1: Jimmy Manning scored in the second period but the Lions came out on the short end in Canton.

Nick Edwards scored four goals, including a third-period penalty shot, as the Warriors led 3-0 after one frame and 5-1 after two.

Manning tallied on a wrist shot from the point to help PJPII (3-9-3) avoid the shutout.

GYMNASTICS

Barnstable 139.8, Silver Lake/Pembroke 126.75: Hayley Myrbeck placed first in all-around and Kayla Myrbeck took second as the Raiders emerged victorious in the road meet.

Hayley Myrbeck finished with a 36.0 all-around, taking first in beam at 9.1 while finishing second in vault at 8.85 and floor at 9.3

Kayla Myrbeck placed first in vault at 9.0 en route to a second-place all-around score of 34.05.

Lauren Hansen was first in bars at 9.45 and Tali Twomey was second at 8.9. JoJo Leveroni was second in beam at 8.5.